Home Care FAQ

Home Care FAQ

What is Home Care?

Home care is supportive care that is provided wherever an individual lives, whether that is in their home, a retirement community or a care facility. It is a helpful service that can be provided for seniors, chronically ill children or adults, and those who are recovering from surgery or are disabled. Learn more about what home care is here.

What are the Advantages of Using Home Care?

There are so many great benefits of home care that it is considered one of the best solutions when it comes to caring for a loved one in need. Some of those benefits include:

Seniors can maintain independence and enjoy a more convenient way to receive health care

Removes or reduces the overwhelming burden of caring for a loved one

The flexibility and customization of home care allows for more personalized care

It is often less expensive than other options

Patients often thrive in the comfort of their own home

Prevents the typical issues that lead to hospital readmission, such as medication mistakes and misunderstandings, missed follow-up appointments, poor nutrition, dehydration and lack of safety preparation in the home

Seniors with dementia may be less confused at home

Continuous home care for patients who cannot be unattended is available

Daily or weekly visits are available based on the needs of the patient

Provides relief for families that need a break or are going on a vacation

Family members can spend quality time with their loved ones instead of feeling the stress of caregiving

What Should I Look for in a Home Care Company?

To choose the right home care provider for your loved one, make sure you keep the following four key points at the top of your decision-making process.

Quality of care – It is essential that you feel comfortable with the care you are being provided. You should have caregivers that you feel a connection with and can trust. You should be able to rest easy knowing that your caregivers have everything under control and that they will provide top notch care for your loved one.

Flexibility and availability of services – You should be able to customize the care you need to fit your family’s lifestyle and your loved one’s personal needs. In addition, you should have access to all of the services your loved one needs.

Personnel training and expertise – The only way you can rest assured that your loved one is getting the best possible care is to ensure that you use a home care company that hires caregivers with the best expertise and provides their employees with top-of-the-line training.

Payer coverage – Of course none of the above matters if you can’t afford the care to begin with. That’s why ensuring the home care company you work with has numerous solutions for coverage is important.

How Do I Go About Paying for Home Care? Is Financial Aid Available?

Some home care is self-financed, and some qualifies for financial assistance like Medicare and Medicaid. Not every home care agency accepts Medicare and Medicaid, however. The good news is that home care is often less expensive than assisted living facilities and other options because of the flexibility and customization of the care plans. To learn more about the affordability of home care, click here.